Policies vs. Procedures

Policies by Nick Youngson CC BY-SA 3.0 Pix4free.org  Original Image.

For those of you needing to update policies (like me), consider the following:

• Does the policy need to remain active?
• Is there is a AW policy that can replace it?
• Can it become a procedure or resource document instead?

Read on for tips on discerning policies from procedures:

Key Point: If it's more like a procedure and would be part of a procedure manual (think of the nursing skills in NRC Plus), it probably does NOT belong in a policy, esp. if you can find that info somewhere else.   Link to it, but don't re-hash it in a policy.  

 

Try to not include procedural specifics in policies that could get us into regulatory trouble if we didn't follow it to the letter, or if it wasn't updated frequently enough to reflect current practice.  The specific procedures may differ by site, but the overall policy applies statewide.

 

Policies are not the same as procedures, though there may be some overlap.

 

Reference the MHC Policy Procedure Resource Definitions 

 

Policy Procedure Resource Definitions - PolicyStat ID=5752739  [This one covers Ascension Wisconsin as of 2018.]

Policy Document

• A definite course or method of action selected from among alternatives and in light of given conditions to guide and determine present and future decisions

• Policies usually:

• Have widespread application

• Are non-negotiable, change infrequently

• Are expressed in broad terms

• Are statements of what and/or why

• Answer major operational issues

Policy/Procedure Document

• The manner of performing something; a method or technique.

• A series of steps for doing something.

• Procedures usually:

• Have a narrower focus

• Are subject to change and continuous improvement

• Are a more detailed description of activities

• Are statements of how, when and/or who & sometimes what

• Detail a process

Resource Document

• Supplemental guidance

• Helpful information for employees to refer to about a specific topic

• Usually referred to after looking at the policy

• No standard format

From around the Web:

The Key Difference between Policy vs. Procedures - Compliance Bridge (c2017)

    > Nevermind that they are trying to sell their own software, this page does a great job of 

    1) defining policies and procedures,

    2) explaining the differences, 

    3) and how they work together.  

 

What is a Policy vs. a Procedure - PowerDMS (c2020)

 

Policy vs. Process vs. Procedure: What's the Difference? - Triaster Blog (c2021)

 

Differences Between Policies, Procedures, Protocols, Guidance and PPPGs - Bettal Quality Consultancy (2020)

 

Developing Policies Protocols and Procedures - [Not sure where this comes from or by whom, but it answers many questions on this topic.]

Page 13-14 look at the definitions and differences between these 3 under: Are Policies, Procedures & Protocols the same thing?